INKWELL
POD standards • real life vs. writing time • when to use capitals • other writing rules • silencing the inner critic • successful habits of debut authors • Your Assignment #193

WRITE BETTER
Write Now
By Dawn Simonds and Maria Schneider
Make the most of your age and experience, with tips and exercises for writing at every stage of life.

Thrill Me
By Simon Wood
Craft a suspense novel that keeps readers on the edge of their seats until the last page.

Book Buzz
By Maria Schneider
We discuss the memoir The Tender Bar and interview the author, J.R. Moehringer.

Fiction Essentials
By James Scott Bell
Work one or all three of these important traits into your lead character and create a hero worthy of remembrance.

Freelancer's Workshop
By Linda Formichelli
Uncover the best places to find the perfect sources for your stories.

Writing Clinic
By Gloria Kempton
Bring your profile subject to life on the page by keeping a tight focus—and using only the quotes that further it along.

The Last Word
By Jack Clemens
Carol Shields' everyday characters prove that power isn't reserved for the famous.

GET PUBLISHED
Jumping Genres
By Lee Tobin Mcclain
Consider the pros and cons of tackling a different type of writing. PLUS: How one author made the switch successfully.

This Writer's Life
By Kevin Alexander
Our writer encounters some tough decisions about prioritizing in the face of too many writing projects.


WORK SMARTER
Survival of the Fittest
By Kevin Alexander
Learn the hard truths about workshop critiquing—and follow these tips to toughen your hide.

10 Dumb Mistakes Even Smart Writers Make
By Kelly James-Enger
Don't get complacent once you join the ranks of professional freelancers. Recognize and learn from these common errors.

Mind Your Business
By Pamela White
Supplement your writing income with a part-time job that pays the bills but doesn't usurp your writing time.

Questions & Quandaries
By Brian A. Klems
Paying for interviews and voice vs. style.

STAY INSPIRED
Reality Check
By Caitlin Kelly
Follow one author's struggle to fulfill her dream of becoming a published author.

The WD Interview: Jennifer Weiner
In Jen's Shoes
By Maria Schneider
This blockbuster author keeps readers close—and sales soaring—with a combination of honesty and humor.

PLUS …
Editor's Letter
Reader Mail

MARKETS
What's one way you can boost your freelance income? Writing trivia.

Breaking In: Learn about cool gadgets while earning a byline in men's tech magazines.

5 Questions for: Neal Pollack, editor at large of the newly relaunched Cracked magazine.

February Markets: 34 listings for book publishers, agents, contests, and consumer and trade magazines.